Primordial Era: Becoming the Great Emperor of Humanity from the Start

Chapter 129 Even the Tongtian Cult Leader Wants to Take Me as His Disciple? (Part 2)

Yun Zhongzi could no longer hold back. He didn't want Jiang Heng to give him an immediate answer, but he had something important to discuss with Jiang Heng.

This time, Yun Zhongzi came to Chaoge not only to congratulate the current Human Emperor on his wedding on behalf of the Chan Sect, but also to convey the decree of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable to accept disciples.

Before departing, Yuanshi Tianzun gave some special instructions, but this matter was of great importance and could not be made public.

Yun Zhongzi had intended to meet with Jiang Heng privately to discuss the matter further. However, to his surprise, Jiang Heng refused to even see him.

Upon arriving at the royal palace of the Great Shang Dynasty once again, Yun Zhongzi still requested an audience with Jiang Heng, but he already had other plans in mind.

Left with no other choice and with time running out, Yun Zhongzi had no choice but to resort to some means to force a meeting with Jiang Heng.

However, to Yun Zhongzi's surprise, this time Jiang Heng did not continue to avoid him, but agreed to meet him.

Yun Zhongzi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he could, he would naturally not want to force his way in, because that would undoubtedly anger the current Human Emperor.

"I apologize for keeping Daoist Yun Zhongzi waiting. I have been very busy with state affairs lately!" Jiang Heng said.

"It's alright! It's normal for the Human Emperor to be busy with state affairs while managing the entire human race!" Yun Zhongzi said quite politely.

Since Jiang Heng had said so earnestly, Yun Zhongzi could not show any dissatisfaction in his heart at this moment.

"Speaking of which, Daoist Yun Zhongzi has a close relationship with my human race. When I visited the ancestors of the human race in Huoyun Cave, they mentioned Daoist Yun Zhongzi."

"In particular, Jiang Heng, the first ruler of our human race, greatly admires Daoist Yun Zhongzi!" Jiang Heng said with a smile.

Yun Zhongzi's expression showed obvious excitement. Jiang Heng not only saved his life, but also helped him achieve enlightenment.

"I have known Fellow Daoist Jiang Heng for many years, and our relationship is indeed very close. Fellow Daoist Jiang Heng has done me a great favor!" Yun Zhongzi said.

If it weren't for Jiang Heng's help, how could his previous incarnation, the Old Ancestor Hongyun, have been reincarnated in the Six Paths of Reincarnation? He would probably have died and vanished long ago.

It was Jiang Heng who helped him, and after Yun Zhongzi was reincarnated, he was able to become the Fengdu Emperor of the Underworld, thus gaining immeasurable merit.

Without that immeasurable merit, how could Yun Zhongzi have attained enlightenment again and cultivated to the quasi-saint realm?

Moreover, with the immeasurable merit of the Six Paths of Reincarnation protecting him, even in the midst of a great eon, Yun Zhongzi would remain safe and sound.

"Master Yun Zhongzi has repeatedly requested to see me. Is there something important you wish to discuss?" Jiang Heng asked.

Although he had guessed Yun Zhongzi's intentions to some extent, Jiang Heng was naturally happy to play dumb at this moment.

"Indeed, I have important matters to discuss with the Human Emperor. Firstly, it concerns my master, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, accepting you as his disciple. I wonder what your decision is?"

Yun Zhongzi's expression returned to normal. With the entrustment of Yuanshi Tianzun, Yun Zhongzi had no choice but to be concerned about Jiang Heng's choice.

"This matter is not something I can decide alone. Although I have long admired the Primordial Sage, I am now, after all, the current Human Emperor of the Human Race."

"Whether or not we can become disciples of the Primordial Sage requires reporting to the human ancestor of Huoyun Cave before a decision can be made!" Jiang Heng said.

These words portray Jiang Heng as someone who is willing to become a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun, but who, as the Human Emperor, cannot easily make a decision.

"The Human Emperor is right. It is indeed necessary to inform the ancestors of the human race first. I failed to consider this!" Yun Zhongzi said helplessly.

Jiang Heng had already mentioned the human ancestor of Huoyun Cave in advance, and even specifically mentioned his true form, which was a reminder to Yun Zhongzi.

Given the relationship between Jiang Heng and Yun Zhongzi, at this moment, even if Yun Zhongzi had a thousand words to say, he could not bring himself to speak.

"No problem! After I report to the ancestors of the human race in Huoyun Cave, I will definitely give you an answer!" Jiang Heng said with a smile.

Jiang Heng deliberately withheld a definite answer from the Chan Sect, keeping them hanging on to see what their true purpose was.

"Before I came here, my master, the Primordial Celestial Venerable, entrusted me with a task, instructing me to speak to the Human Emperor about the Investiture of the Gods when I meet him!" Yun Zhongzi said.

"Oh? You don't know what the Investiture of the Gods is?" Jiang Heng said calmly.

"The so-called Investiture of the Gods was actually a great calamity, originating from the Jade Emperor Haotian of the Heavenly Court."

Yun Zhongzi did not hide anything and slowly explained the cause of the Investiture of the Gods calamity. He even specially explained to Jiang Heng what a calamity was.

"I never imagined that the Great Tribulation would be so terrifying. This time, the Great Tribulation of the Conferred Gods has actually befallen our human race. What a turbulent time!"

"I urge the bird demon and the Jie Sect to be mindful of their actions and not to have too much of an impact on our human race!" Jiang Heng said with considerable emotion.

"Your Majesty, please rest assured that the human race is now the protagonist of the world. Even those with profound cultivation would not dare to easily kill humans."

Although the Investiture of the Gods calamity is terrifying, my master, Yuanshi Tianzun, was appointed by the Dao Ancestor to take charge of the Investiture of the Gods list and is the person in charge of this calamity.

"As long as my master, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable, is under his protection, even in the midst of the Investiture of the Gods, I will remain safe and sound. The Human Emperor should think twice!" Yun Zhongzi said.

Just now, when Yun Zhongzi was talking to Jiang Heng about the Investiture of the Gods, he spoke the truth, but he also hid some key insights.

For example, although Yun Zhongzi talked about the reasons for the Investiture of the Gods, he never mentioned the struggle between the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect.

Moreover, Yun Zhongzi did not mention that the Shang Dynasty was about to decline and be replaced by the emerging Zhou Dynasty.

Now, it is said that Yuanshi Tianzun is in charge of the Investiture of the Gods and is the person in charge of the Investiture of the Gods calamity. The meaning implied in his words is quite clear.

"What exactly is the meaning behind Daoist Yun Zhongzi's words? Please explain!" Jiang Heng said in a deep voice.

Although he knew perfectly well what was going on, Jiang Heng couldn't bring himself to say it, lest he put himself at a complete disadvantage.

Yun Zhongzi was also helpless. The meaning of the Chan Sect had been made very clear at this point, but the human emperor in front of him was still pretending to be stupid.

"Let's not beat around the bush, so I'll speak frankly! My master, Yuanshi Tianzun, once said that it would be best if the Human Emperor could become a disciple of the Chan Sect."

My master, the Primordial Celestial Venerable, will not only personally come to accept me as a disciple, but will also allow the Human Emperor to take charge.

Before Yun Zhongzi could finish speaking, an unparalleled aura manifested, instantly interrupting him.

It was at this moment that a cold snort came, and Jiang Heng and Yun Zhongzi both felt a chill run down their spines without realizing it.

"My second senior brother has really gone to great lengths for the Investiture of the Gods! It wasn't a wasted trip for me!"

As this voice rang out, a voice appeared before Jiang Heng and Yun Zhongzi, causing Yun Zhongzi's expression to change drastically in an instant.

"Greetings, Martial Uncle!" Yun Zhongzi hurriedly stepped forward, knelt down, and said respectfully.

"Greetings, Sage Tongtian!" Jiang Heng bowed and said.

The person who came was none other than the Tongtian Sect Leader. No one had expected that this saint would personally come to the human race's Chaoge City.

The appearance of the Sage of Heaven—was it also to meet the current Human Emperor of the human race in preparation for the Investiture of the Gods? Or perhaps it was also to take on a disciple?

"What a coincidence that Second Senior Brother wants to take the current Human Emperor as his disciple! I also have my eye on the current Human Emperor of the human race and am also interested in taking him as a disciple."

"What did you just say? Second Senior Brother wants to take the current Human Emperor as his disciple and put him in charge of what?" Tongtian Sect Leader said in a deep voice.

Jiang Heng remained expressionless, his mind racing with countless thoughts. Everything that had happened today truly baffled him.

It's one thing for Yuanshi Tianzun to want to take him as his personal disciple, but judging from Yun Zhongzi's words just now, it seems that Yuanshi Tianzun also made some promises.

Now, even the leader of the Tongtian Cult has personally appeared, intending to take him as his personal disciple.

When did I become so popular? Was it just because of my battle with the Sage of Guidance? But the Sages couldn't possibly be unaware of the true circumstances of that battle.

The Sage who received the guidance was severely injured by the backlash and was no longer at his peak. Jiang Heng did not believe that the other sages could not see this.

Jiang Heng, the current Human Emperor, does seem to have reached the level of a saint, but that strength is the result of gathering the power of the entire human race.

After the Dao Ancestor issued another decree, Jiang Heng was merely a Great Luo Golden Immortal in the primordial world.

Is a mere Great Luo Golden Immortal, even a contemporary human, truly capable of influencing the grand scheme of the Investiture of the Gods?

Not to mention Jiang Heng's disbelief, he felt that even if he truly stepped into the realm of a sage, Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu would be afraid.

Just kidding! Neither the Pangu Banner of the Primordial Celestial Venerable nor the Zhuxian Sword Formation of the Tongtian Sect Master are comparable to the Sage of Reception.

"Uncle-Master, before I came here, my teacher said that if the Human Emperor could become a disciple of the Chan Sect, he would be in charge of the Investiture of the Gods!"

Under the intense gaze of the Tongtian Sect Leader, Yun Zhongzi, though extremely uneasy, had no choice but to bite the bullet and speak.

The Tongtian Sect Leader was speechless. Yuanshi Tianzun actually wanted the Emperor to take charge of the Investiture of the Gods. Was he going to make the Emperor the one who would be the master of the Investiture of the Gods calamity?

Although he, Tongtian Jiaozhu, was the leader of the Jie Sect and one of the Seven Sages under the Heavenly Dao, he didn't even have a supreme treasure like the Investiture of the Gods!

Moreover, the significance of the Investiture of the Gods is extraordinary and cannot be compared with ordinary treasures, so even the Tongtian Sect Leader hesitated for a moment.

Even though Jiang Heng had long suspected the intentions of the Chan Sect, he was still so shocked by Yun Zhongzi's words that he was speechless.

Yuanshi Tianzun appointed him to oversee the Investiture of the Gods? To be the mastermind behind the Investiture of the Gods calamity? What about Jiang Ziya then? Can the mastermind be replaced?

However, upon further reflection, considering the benefits he could gain if he could truly control the Investiture of the Gods, Jiang Heng was honestly tempted.

From Yun Zhongzi's words, Jiang Heng had already roughly determined the attitude of the Chan Sect, or rather, the attitude of Yuanshi Tianzun.

For Yuanshi Tianzun and the entire Chan Sect, the dynastic changes of the human race and the general trend of the Heavenly Dao are actually unimportant.

The important thing is how to prevent the disciples of the Chan Sect from being listed on the Investiture of the Gods. If we can also weaken the Jie Sect in the process, that would be even better.

In the eyes of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, whether or not the human dynasty changes is not the key to whether the Investiture of the Gods can be successfully completed.

The key is to use the 365 positions on the Investiture of the Gods to fill the 365 positions of the Heavenly Court.

With Yuanshi Tianzun's cultivation level, it's impossible that he didn't understand that the ones who fell into the calamity were the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect. The key question is how the two sects will ultimately prevail.

Either the Jie Sect will suffer, or the Chan Sect will be in trouble. The principle of "better to die for a fellow Daoist than for myself"—how could the Primordial Heavenly Venerable not understand this?

Therefore, after seeing how outstanding Jiang Heng, the current human emperor, was, Yuanshi Tianzun decisively chose to switch his support.

So what if the Jie Sect's destiny is tied to the Great Shang Dynasty? He can immediately sever the connection between the Jie Sect and the Great Shang Dynasty by directly taking the Human Emperor as his disciple.

If the current Human Emperor were to take control of the Investiture of the Gods, the Chan Sect would immediately be rendered invincible. It must be said that Yuanshi Tianzun was truly a master strategist.

However, Jiang Heng did not immediately agree. The Tongtian Sect Leader was still here, and Jiang Heng had to consider the attitude of this saint no matter what.

Seeing that Jiang Heng did not immediately agree, the Tongtian Sect Leader breathed a sigh of relief, then gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"Although I don't possess a treasure like the Investiture of the Gods, if you become my disciple, I can grant you the power to wield the Four Swords of Zhuxian!"

Upon hearing this, not only was Yun Zhongzi shocked, but Jiang Heng himself was also instantly stunned.

What? What did Jiang Heng just hear? The Tongtian Sect Leader said that as long as he could become his disciple, he would be allowed to wield the Four Swords of Zhuxian?

Although the Four Swords of Zhuxian are not innate treasures, they are the number one killing treasures in the primordial world. Once their full power is unleashed, they are simply terrifying.

Moreover, the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, formed by the Four Immortal Slaughtering Swords, is incredibly powerful, making it the most formidable killing formation under the Heavenly Dao since the beginning of time.

The fact that only one sage could set up the Zhuxian Sword Formation, and that only four sages could break it, is enough to demonstrate the power of the Four Zhuxian Swords.

If Jiang Heng could truly wield the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, it could even be said that it would give him the possibility of slaying a saint.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't tempted. In fact, compared to wielding the Investiture of the Gods, the allure of wielding the Four Swords of Zhuxian was significantly greater.

However, after thinking it over for a moment, Jiang Heng quickly calmed down; he was still somewhat self-aware.

Whether it's becoming a disciple of Yuanshi Tianzun and thus wielding the Investiture of the Gods, or becoming a disciple of Tongtian Jiaozhu and wielding the Four Swords of Zhuxian.

These things all seem incredibly wonderful, but they are only wonderful on the surface. If you really think about it carefully, they are actually nothing special.

What good would it do to control the Investiture of the Gods? Could Jiang Heng truly fulfill the wishes of the Primordial Heavenly Lord and confer titles upon the gods to end the Investiture of the Gods calamity?

This was naturally impossible. Jiang Heng didn't know whether Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu knew the truth about the Investiture of the Gods, but he himself knew.

Once Jiang Heng appoints a god on behalf of Heaven, the consequences will be extremely serious, a fact that Jiang Heng understood long ago.

Therefore, no matter what, Jiang Heng would not allow the matter of bestowing titles upon gods on behalf of Heaven to happen; this was something Jiang Heng had planned long ago.

As for the Four Swords of Zhuxian, they do indeed appear to be incredibly powerful, even capable of granting Jiang Heng the terrifying power to slay saints.

However, the Four Swords of Zhuxian are the spiritual treasures of the Tongtian Sect Master. Giving Jiang Heng control of the Four Swords of Zhuxian is not the same as directly giving this supreme treasure to Jiang Heng.

With the power of the Tongtian Sect Master, with just a thought, wouldn't the Four Swords of Zhuxian obediently return to this saint's hands?

Therefore, wielding the Four Swords of Zhuxian was just a nice-sounding title for Jiang Heng; it didn't actually have any real practical use.

After all, what Jiang Heng is about to do is truly earth-shattering. At that time, even the Tongtian Sect Leader will probably be astonished.

When that moment finally arrives, Jiang Heng will find it hard to be sure whether the Tongtian Cult Leader will stand on the same side as him.

Of course, this is not something that cannot be tried. Given the tragic fate of the Tongtian Sect Leader during the Investiture of the Gods, it might be possible to win over this sage, Jiang Heng.

However, no matter what, Jiang Heng could not possibly get on the Jie Sect's carriage without hesitation just because the Tongtian Sect Leader asked him to wield the Four Swords of Zhuxian.

"What virtue or ability does Emperor Xin possess to be so highly regarded by two sages? This truly fills me with immense trepidation. For a moment, I've lost my composure."

However, as I once told Master Yunzhongzi, I am the current Human Emperor of the human race, and I must take the human race as the foundation in everything I do.

"Whether I choose to become a disciple of the Primordial Sage or the Tongtian Sage, I dare not make a decision on my own. I must first inform my ancestors of the human race!" Jiang Heng said in a deep voice.

Yun Zhongzi was shocked by Jiang Heng's words once again. He simply couldn't believe how Jiang Heng could resist such a temptation.

Whether wielding the Investiture of the Gods or the Four Swords of Zhuxian, which of the billions of living beings in the primordial world could resist such temptation?

Although Jiang Heng did not immediately refuse, his failure to immediately agree already spoke volumes.

As for Jiang Heng's claim that he wanted to inform the ancestor of the human race, how could Yun Zhongzi not know that? This was merely a pretext.

Even the Tongtian Sect Leader looked at Jiang Heng with considerable surprise, and couldn't help but think more highly of him.

Originally, the Tongtian Sect Leader wanted to take Jiang Heng as his disciple only to spite the Yuanshi Tianzun and not want to be outdone by him.

Similarly, the reason for letting Jiang Heng wield the Four Swords of Zhuxian was the same. After all, Yuanshi Tianzun had already brought out the Investiture of the Gods, so Tongtian Jiaozhu couldn't just remain silent.

But now, the Tongtian Sect Leader realized that the human emperor before him was quite extraordinary, and thus he truly began to consider taking him as a disciple.

However, since Jiang Heng has already said so, given the arrogance of the Tongtian Sect Leader, it is impossible for him to force Jiang Heng to become his disciple.

Left with no other choice, Yun Zhongzi had to take his leave and prepare to return to Yuxu Palace to report to Yuanshi Tianzun. Tongtian Jiaozhu also disappeared in an instant.

After Yun Zhongzi and Tongtian Jiaozhu left, Jiang Heng's expression gradually became solemn. Yuanshi Tianzun was indeed somewhat beyond Jiang Heng's expectations.

Jiang Heng condensed the fortune of humanity and became the embodiment of humanity. To some extent, it can be said that Jiang Heng had already mastered the power of humanity at this time.

The power of humanity itself is self-evident, but its importance to the Chan and Jie sects is unimaginable.

Luck is invisible and intangible, yet it is exceptionally crucial for any religious sect. Just like the Western Religion, which has always desired the flourishing of its own religion.

For the Western religion to flourish, it must gather supreme fortune, which is why the Western religion has been meticulously planning the cycle of reincarnation.

Jiang Heng, who is able to gather the power of humanity, represents the destiny of the human race. As long as you can take Jiang Heng under your wing, it is equivalent to mastering the destiny of the human race.

Whether it's the Chan Sect or the Jie Sect, they can immediately benefit from the human race's fortune and prosper, which is extremely crucial in the Investiture of the Gods.

This is indeed the case for the Jie Sect, which lacks a supreme treasure to suppress its fortune. However, for the Chan Sect, while Jiang Heng is crucial, he is not essential.

It should be noted that Yuanshi Tianzun held the Investiture of the Gods, which meant he had immense power over the Investiture of the Gods.

Even if he were to support the future Great Zhou Dynasty, with the strength of the Primordial Celestial Venerable, overthrowing the current Great Shang Dynasty would not be a difficult task.

Why should we compromise with Jiang Heng, this insignificant human emperor? Not only should we take Jiang Heng as our disciple, but we should also put him in charge of the Investiture of the Gods?

"Could there be some hidden secrets I don't know about?" Jiang Heng wondered to himself.

Only when he was truly in the midst of the Investiture of the Gods did Jiang Heng realize that the history he knew in his previous life was merely a manifestation of the Investiture of the Gods.

With the abilities of a sage to scheme against heaven and earth, and with Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao hiding behind him, how could the Investiture of the Gods calamity be so simple?

However, in any case, Jiang Heng would never allow the act of bestowing titles on behalf of Heaven to happen; at the very least, the act of bestowing titles on behalf of Heaven in history was not permitted by Jiang Heng.

Because of the Jade Emperor Haotian's tearful plea, the Dao Ancestor decided to confer the titles of gods, thus enabling the Heavenly Court to prosper by appointing 365 righteous gods on the Investiture of the Gods.

The spots on the Investiture of the Gods list were undoubtedly to be filled by disciples of the Chan and Jie sects, which was equivalent to having the disciples of the Chan and Jie sects return to the Heavenly Court.

At the same time, the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods also occurred among the human race, with the newly emerging Great Zhou Dynasty replacing the Great Shang Dynasty.

After the Investiture of the Gods, the human race no longer had a human emperor, but only a Son of Heaven, which meant that the human race was also under the Heavenly Court.

The Heavenly Court undoubtedly represents the Way of Heaven. The flourishing of the Heavenly Court undoubtedly signifies the gradual strengthening of the power of the Way of Heaven.

Both the Chan Sect and the Jie Sect suffered severe suppression during the Investiture of the Gods, and the human race was completely crushed.

As a result, with the rise of the Heavenly Court, the Heavenly Dao's control over the prehistoric world will undoubtedly become even stronger, to the point that even saints will have to be wary.

Jiang Heng had been meticulously planning for hundreds of thousands of years since he descended upon the primordial world, so how could he stand by and watch the human race live under the Heavenly Court?

Even if the Dao Ancestor Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao are in control behind all this, Jiang Heng still wants to try to free the human race from that tragic fate in the future.

Human affairs belong to humankind; even the Heavenly Court, which represents the Way of Heaven, cannot suppress humankind.

This is Jiang Heng's bottom line, and it will also be the bottom line for humanity. For this bottom line, Jiang Heng is even willing to fight against Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

"There's still some time. Next, the various protagonists of destiny in the Investiture of the Gods should make their appearance!" Jiang Heng muttered to himself.

During the Great Tribulation of the Investiture of the Gods, not only was Jiang Heng working hard, but Houtu Zuwu was also accumulating power, and Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu were not idle either.

Because of Jiang Heng's intrusion, this great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods has developed in an unpredictable direction, and no one knows what the final outcome will be.

For Jiang Heng, no matter what the process is like, in the end, he will inevitably have to face Dao Ancestor Hongjun, and that will be the most difficult moment.

Without sufficient strength, even with numerous trump cards, one will be crushed by Dao Ancestor Hongjun like an ant.

Fortunately, Jiang Heng had accumulated so much experience over the years and painstakingly planned, so he was not completely unprepared.

Jiang Heng has prepared a great gift for Dao Ancestor Hongjun!

(End of this chapter)